About Ohakune

2016, Ohakune is located at the base of Mt Ruapehu and is the southern gateway to the Tongariro National Park.

Ohakune

Kings

Ohakune is well-equipped with accommodation, restaurants and snow-related retailers. Although Kings is not open in Summer, during the warmer months Ohakune also looks after those who come to hike and climb in the national park or the other local adventure activities, include golf, mountain biking, white water rafting, horse riding and canoeing.

The meaning of Ohakune is obscure. However some say Ohakune in Maori means a place to take care. This is assumed to relate to Mt Ruapehu being an active Volcano with the meaning of Ruapehu some say is to make a noise or explode. Perhaps today this meaning can be extend to taking care when skiing or snowboarding on the Mountain and enjoy the noise and explosive action of the Après Ski area.

Perhaps not as exciting, but Ohakune is also known as Carrot Capital. This is the place where carrots are grown. With some of the best soil in NZ courtesy of volcanic action Ohakune produces some of the sweetest and best tasting carrots. There is also the world’s biggest carrot sitting at the edge of town.

Take a flight over Ohakune. Spot the Kings name on the red roof 1min 50secs into the video! Click on image for larger version.

About Turoa and Mt Ruapehu

Kings Ohakune services all visitors to Mt Ruapehu and is the natural base for New Zealand’s two biggest ski areas, run by the Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Company. Mt Ruapehu covers 700 hectares of terrain on 50 groomed trails, with almost the same off-trail.

Access to the Turoa and Whakapapa skifield roads is up the sealed roads. These have no tolls and both sides offer free shuttle buses and car parks. The Ruaephu Alpine Lift Company now offers whole mountain lift passes which means you can ski either side of Ruapehu on the same ticket.

Turoa slopes have natural benefits as they face south-west allowing them to hold on to their snow well and in good condition. The positional advantage of the slopes provides for drier snow in winter and gives great spring skiing through October and often later in the year.

With wide open slopes for cruising, as well as lots of tricky chutes and steeps for advanced skiers the field is a natural terrain park for skiers and snowboarders. Ruapehu Alpine Lift Company supplements all the natural wonder with an impressive snowboarding terrain park created at the top of the Giant Chairlift.

For beginners the Alpine Meadow which has full snowmaking ability provides a haven for the first timers.

Turoa also offers the only lift access to a glacier in New Zealand. Reaching the Mangaehuehu Glacier is an awesome experience.

Ruapehu’s Turoa is a great ski area and has NZ’s biggest vertical drop at 720m with over 400 hectares covered by 40 trails serviced by 9 lifts. This includes the six seat High Noon Express which is 1.4km long and reaches 2322m high. It is capable of moving 3200 people an hour which is the largest capacity in Australasia and so keeps queues to a minimum while keeping fun to a maximum.

To complement the express chairlift, Turoa’s snowmaking system has been tripled in size. Including a new 50 million litre reservoir which has been constructed to feed an additional 25 automated snowguns which have been added to the existing arsenal. This massive increase in snowmaking capacity will ensure that Turoa has optimal snow coverage, up to 1950m, from very early in the season.

Kings Ohakune guests can also slide on Ruapehu’s Whakapapa Ski Field for about an extra 20min travel time. This offers an additional 30 groomed trails as well as its steep chutes and off-piste skiing.

Then after a great day’s skiing or sliding on Mt Ruapehu join us at Kings for great food, great music, a great atomsphere and importantly a comfortable bed!

Meaning of Ohakune

The meaning of Ohakune is obscure. However some say Ohakune in Maori means a place to take care. This is assumed to relate to Mt Ruapehu being an active Volcano with the meaning of Ruapehu some say is to make a noise or explode. Perhaps today this meaning can be extend to taking care when skiing or snowboarding on the Mountain and enjoy the noise and explosive action of the Après Ski area. . .

Perhaps not as exciting, but Ohakune is also known as Carrot Capital. This is the place where carrots are grown. With some of the best soil in NZ courtesy of volcanic action Ohakune produces some of the sweetest and best tasting carrots. There is also the world’s biggest carrot sitting at the edge of town.

Spelling of Ohakune

Just for interest Kings Accommodation logs shows many misspelling of Ohakune, most are just finger problems but it is a difficult name for some… some examples: